HEALTHY LIVING EDUCATION COMES ALIVE IN WESTERN CAPE CLASSROOMS

November 1, 2011

Rising levels of child obesity and physically inactive lifestyles; as well as the challenges of engaging children in bringing about a more sustainable world, are currently high on the Western Cape education agenda.
From Bridgetown to Grassy Park, there is a great need across communities for innovative educational resources and experiences that can help teachers and schools to empower learners to take charge of their own well-being and to care for their environments.
The Woolworths Primary Education Programme has broken ground with three entertaining, educational lessons delivered in class by professional presenters. The lessons use movement, rhyme, storytelling, games and group participation to creatively convey key information about healthy choices and sustainable living to Grade Four learners at participating schools.
Recently, learners from Blomvlei Primary School in Hanover Park experienced the action-packed ‘The Big Stomp – Our Ecological Footprint’ lesson in which kids love joining in ‘The Big Stomp Rap’ and playing the ‘Earth Safety Game’. Music is a great way for learners to learn and recall the five essential, practical ways that they can reduce their ecological footprint in their community and contribute to a more sustainable environment
“The idea of highly interactive, entertaining class lessons is to provide a new and innovative platform for teaching and learning about healthy, sustainable living,” comments Pieter Twine, Woolworths Educational Programmes Manager. “Now Woolworths can share its expertise on healthy eating and sustainability right where it counts: in the classroom. This is an important extension of the programme; another way that we can support the upliftment of education in the Western Cape by providing schools with high quality educational resources and learning experiences that effectively address the concerns about educating children about healthy, sustainable lifestyles.”
Other lessons available to schools in the programme are:
‘Healthy Living is Fun!’ lesson. This lesson got kids moving and taught them the basics of a balanced meal. The importance of physical activity and making healthy eating choices was emphasised through the use of movement and rhyme. The interactive and memorable ‘Five to Feel Alive’ activity provided five essential guidelines for healthier living.
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‘The Great Food Mystery’ lesson, conceived to address the problem of the present-day lack of understanding of where our food comes from, introduces a story-telling Truth Detective who needs the learners’ help. It uses a fruit and vegetable rap which tells the story of the conditions each need in order to grow. Learners are reminded of our dependence on Nature for healthy food.
The fun-filled, 30-minute lessons support Grade Four educators in bringing the curricula to life and innovatively engage learners in a deeper, interactive learning experience. The Woolworths Primary Education class lessons have been developed to meet the requirements of specific Learning Outcomes in the Life Orientation, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences Learning Areas. They complement the existing Woolworths Primary Education educator resources on healthy eating, physical activity, Permaculture and sustainability.
Schools participating in the Woolworths Education Programme in the Western Cape can book the class lessons through their local Woolworths Education Programme coordinators.
For more information log onto www.makingthedifference.co.za/primary
ENDS
Issued on behalf of: Woolworths
Issued by: liquidlingo Communications
Contact: Amy Collins
Email: amy@liquidlingo.co.za
Telephone Number: +27 21 424 1530
Notes to the Editor
WOOLWORTHS AND EDUCATION
• Enriching education is part of our Good business journey to make a difference in our communities, our country and our world.
• In addition to the Woolworths Educational Programme, our initiatives in this area include our MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet community fundraising programme as well as our involvement in EduPlant, which addresses the challenges of food security by teaching educators, learners and communities how to grow their own food sustainably.
The Woolworths Educational Programme – an innovative educational initiative
• The Woolworths Making the Difference Educational Programme focuses on Healthy Living and the Environment.
• The programme is designed for Grade Four learners and targets learners, their educators and parents.
• More than 1 600 schools are registered on the programme.
• 50% of the schools participating in the programme are under-resourced.
• This year to date 81 830 learners have experienced the classroom lessons.
• The programme has been running successfully in primary schools across the Western Cape and Gauteng since 2004, and in schools across KwaZulu-Natal since 2006.
• The number of schools participating in the programme have grown year on year.
• The programme was expanded to schools in Eastern Cape in January 2011.
• For parents there is a series of dietician-led store tours aimed at offering assistance and advice on their children’s health, nutrition and physical well-being.
MySchool Programme – Shop and raise money for Schools
• The MySchool programme encourages supporters to raise funds for schools.
• Consumers throughout the country who carry MySchool and Woolworths World of Difference cards can earn additional funds for their chosen schools by simply swiping their card at the tills each time they buy at any Woolworths store in South Africa.
• Woolworths World of Difference card holders are automatically invited to participate in MySchool.
• Cardholders can support any school of their choice and do not have to have children at school in order to participate.
• Woolworths through the MySchool programme contributed more than R48 million to participating schools between June 2010 and August 2011.
• In October 2007 MyPlanet / MyVillage was introduced, this an extension of the MySchool programme, enabling customers to raise funds for selected charities & environmental organisations.
• All South Africans are encouraged to participate in the MySchool programme by getting a brochure from the nearest Woolworths outlet or contacting MySchool on 0860-100 445.

Rising levels of child obesity and physically inactive lifestyles; as well as the challenges of engaging children in bringing about a more sustainable world, are currently high on the Western Cape education agenda.